Kayakers find themselves trapped in high waters, current in Ware River

Monday

Jun 24, 2013 at 6:00 AMJun 24, 2013 at 8:31 PM

By Kim Ring TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Four kayakers who became trapped in the racing water of the Ware River Saturday were rescued by emergency personnel from several towns.

Hardwick Police Cpl. Kevin Landine said the incident began about 7:30 p.m. when the dispatch center received a call reporting people in the water trapped on rocks or logs and unable to get to shore.

After a search, the kayakers were spotted clinging to rocks and a downed tree, the unusually high water and swift current making it impossible for them to swim or walk back to shore.

Firefighters from Hardwick, Ware, Warren, North Brookfield, Spencer, Worcester, Leicester and New Braintree worked with the state Department of Fire Services, Environmental Police and EMTs from Barre during the rescue which took more than four hours.

Cpl. Landine said the kayakers are part of a group of eight people were making their way from Barre to the Gilbertville section of Hardwick, where they planned to get out of the river at a landing.

“They were a couple hundred yards from their destination,” he said. “It sounds like they were tipping and taking on water.”

Dozens of rescuers from several towns were called in to help, initially tossing a life preserver to the man who was trapped with a woman on a rock, because he was without one.

Joseph Nanigian from the Spencer Fire Department donned a protective suit and climbed into the water tethered to a line that had been shot across the river with a rope gun the Hardwick Fire Department used. New Braintree firefighters on the other side of the river secured the line. They had also rescued two of the kayakers who were stuck on a downed tree.

“I underestimated the current,” Firefighter Nanigian said. “It was much worse than I thought, and the river was as much as 6 feet deep in some spots.”

When he reached the couple, Firefighter Nanigian realized the woman had injured her ankle and he decided she would be the first to be rescued. He said their kayak was against the rock under about 4 feet of water and that he was able to stand on it during the rescue.

“She was scared but I told her to trust me and she said she would,” he explained, adding that he laid on his back and held her on his chest to keep her head above water as firefighters on shore pulled them in.

“Those guys did an amazing job,” he said. “Chief Holway was amazing directing the operations and made sure everything was done safely and that they called in the personnel we needed.”

The woman was treated in a waiting ambulance and wrapped in a blanket before rejoining her friends while Firefighter Nanigian rescued the man who was not hurt.

“The best part of the night was when that lady gave me a hug,” Firefighter Nanigian said, adding that he does not know her name.

Police declined to release the names of any of those rescued but said they are from Central Massachusetts towns, including Hubbardston, Westminster and Templeton.

While the operation took several hours and included many emergency personnel, Firefighter Nanigian said it was executed nearly perfectly. He said it was necessary to call in so many people because there was a chance that something could go wrong and they would then be needed.

Police said normally at this time of year, a person could walk across the river in that area but recent rains have made the normally shallow, slow spot much more dangerous.

“The water is higher than usual and we were surprised by the current,” Cpl. Landine said, adding that those using the river for recreational purposes should be aware and exercise caution.